Syrian rocket attacks could start a civil war, fears Moscow

Moscow has warned that Syria is lurching ever closer to full-blown civil war after its soldiers launched missiles.

Damascus was hit by missiles on Wednesday sparking concerns about the resistance against President Bashar Assad (Picture: EPA)

Russiaâs foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said nations wanting peace in Syria must call on all parties to endÂ the violence.

He urged Syriaâs government and opposition groups to begin talks which should take place at the Arab League headquarters in Egyptâs capital Cairo.

His comments came after army defectors fired machine guns and rockets at an air force complex on the edge of the capital on Wednesday, sparking fears that the popular uprising against president Bashar Assadâs rule is sliding into armed conflict.

Mr Lavrov said: âWe see television reports that say some new force, theÂ so-called Free Syrian Army, I believe, organised an attack on a building belonging to the Syrian armed forces.

‘This is already completely similar to real civil war.â

Syrian opposition leaders urged Russia to call on Mr Assad to resign but Mr Lavrov told them they should enter dialogue with the government.

Moscow has urged Mr Assad to implement reforms faster but says his opponents share blame for the violence, which the United Nations says has killed more than 3,500 people since a government crackdown on protesters began eight months ago.

Syrian authorities blame the unrest on âarmed terrorist gangsâ and foreign-backed militant groups who they say have killed 1,100 soldiers and police.

Russia joined China last month in vetoing a UN Security Council resolution condemning Mr Assadâs regime, saying it was one-sided.